🟢 West Hartford Getting New Pizzeria

Happy first day of school!

The kids are back in school (at least in Bloomfield) so now I get the middle of my day back to actually work, lol!

It’s bittersweet as I’m not a fan of sending my kid to school, but my goodness, I could use the break.

That said, there are plenty of fun stuff to do and Happy Hours to crash, so let’s get into the goings-on around Hartford County.

In today’s edition of The Hartford Pour, we’ll get into:

— Chris M.
Local Whiskey Nerd, Husband, Dad, Entrepreneur (Fun Tip: Connecticut ranks 4th in the nation for education… go figure)

I need your input! To help make The Hartford Pour better, I have a quick question…

(Best deals are bottles you buy yourself!)

Distilled by: Sagamore Spirits
Mashbill: 95% Rye | 5% Malted Barley
Age: Not stated, but reported to be approx 5 years
Batch: 8AQ
Bottle: 3472
Proof: 96.6
Findability: 8 out of 10
MSRP: $60

Nose: This nose is PHENOMENAL. I immediately get some sweet, sweet oak. It’s like a cream soda or birch beer with extra syrup. I also get a buttery, maple syrup like on rye-forward pancakes.

Palate: Sweet, baked goods like a dark cherry scone. Notes of simple syrup and dark honey. On the backend, there’s a nice burnt barrel char that is crazy inviting.

Finish: The finish itself is more medium to long. Getting some dark apricot, herbal tea, and cloves.

Upon the first sip, this bottle really became a favorite. The darkness, the aromas, the finish, the taste, it was amazing.

This stuff smells so good. I wish I could spray it on me as cologne. It’s THAT good.

If I had to come up with one critique of this particular whiskey: I wish it was stronger. At 96.6 proof, it's good, and the finish is very good. However, if this was at around a 110 to 115 proof point, this would quite possibly be one of the most perfect ryes I've ever tasted.

The one thing I do appreciate about these Sagamores is their availability. You can find it pretty much anywhere for around $55. -- wouldn't pay any more than about $60 for this bottle, but it is definitely worth it under that price point.

(By way of Detroit…)

When I first moved to Connecticut back in 2013, one thing I noticed was the absolute insane number of pizza spots.

With that said, look at the photo up top for a second.

That's Detroit-style pizza, and it's coming to West Hartford.

The name of the pizzeria will be “Dime Pizza”. Now what makes Detroit-style, Detroit-style?

It bakes in a rectangular steel pan, the cheese gets pushed all the way out to the edges so it fries into that dark, almost-burnt crust you can see clinging to the sides in the photo, and the sauce goes on in stripes after it comes out of the oven, not underneath everything like a “normal” pie.

The team behind Dime Pizza is Dave, Dennis, and Camille Noad, who already run Camille's Wood Fired Pizza in Tolland (Thrillist's 100 Best Pizzerias in America, casually) and Oakland Pizza Co. in South Windsor.

They are not exactly rookies to running these pizzerias.

Also, not for nothing, but their logo is a little unhinged. You can see it above. I don't hate it, and it’s absolutely subject to change, but it is plastered all over their Instagram.

They will be at 345 N. Main St. in Bishop's Corner where the old Salsa Fresca spot was, dropping sometime in "late 2026," which is restaurant-speak for "we'll tell you when we're ready."

I'll be over here still thinking about that logo.

(Need something to do?)

Hartford is picking a fight with your calendar, and honestly, let it because there is so much to do.

I grew up doing poetry so this one caught my eye.

At Dead Language Beer Project (1429 Park St), the Sonder Reading Series starts at 6, free (of course), three spoken-word writers and a poet taking the mic while you work through a Father Green, their 5.9% American IPA (beer’s not free).

Across town at 6:30, Capital Spirits (68 Pratt St) runs its "Summer" Cocktail Class with Nicole, hands-on, two drinks.

Somebody lost the plot on "summer," because you're shaking a Pumpkin Espresso Martini and an Apple Cider Margarita. In August. Not mad about it.

Unless you’re already sick of pumpkins, lol.

Regardless, whichever one you pick before… afterwards head to Parkville Market (1400 Park St). R&B Under the Stars from 7 to 11, with Ru Williams hosting and DJ Mab on the 1s and 2s.

Order a Something Good (that’s the name of a drink). It’s a vodka lemonade, and just vibe.

So we got three options… two cost money, one doesn't. Classic red pill, blue pill.

New Park Brewing (485 New Park Ave, West Hartford) is hosting HEAT.WAV Music & Arts Festival starting at noon, Lip Critic, Chemical-X, DJ Rozwell, and a stacked local lineup running through 10pm, vendors and food the whole way.

This one isn't free: $20 advance until Friday night, $35 at the door. Grab tickets here before the price climbs.

The other paid one is the Foodie Fam Fest. It’s at Dunkin’ Park in Hartford from 2-6pm and kids get in free.

The ticket gets you food samples, meet and greet with creators, access to vendors.

Or… Skip the cover charges entirely.

Urban Lodge Brewing (88 Pratt St, Hartford) runs the Pratt Street Yacht Club Cookout from 2 to 8, walk-up, no ticket, just a patio and fresh seafood.

It’s an all out cookout with lobster, fish tacos, BBQ and all the things we love as summer is closing out. There will be games and prizes and raffles and games… list goes on.

This is likely the best value of the weekend!

Take a Hike… seriously, lol.

A hike to the Heublein Tower for Hike to the Mic running Saturday the 29th and Sunday the 30th, 10am to 6pm both days. The trailhead is off Route 185 in Simsbury.

It’s free admission but you can donate to help keep the tower standing. But there will be live music and local art and food vendors waiting at the summit.

Later that morning, Center Streets shuts down West Hartford Center, 9am to 1pm. Meaning no cars on Farmington Ave, South Main, Memorial Road Extension, or LaSalle Road, just bikes and brunch specials.

With all the stuff available, I suggest hitting up The Friendly Toasts (36 LaSalle Rd) for their Endless Summer mimosa flight: Tropic Likes It Hot, Bohemian Raspberry, Mango Marg-Mosa, Strawberry Daiquiri all in one shot.

Not a bad way to cap off the weekend.

Do you know of an AWESOME restaurant or bar? Or something not included in this email you’d like to see?

REPLY to this email and let me know!